Brittany Hundzynski
Politics PA
The California company Soylndra is a hot topic these days, and not just because they manufacture solar panels. Republicans across the country and in Pennsylvania are eager to highlight what has become a high-profile, anecdotal indictment of President Obama’s economic and energy policies.
In September, at the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, Congressman Tim Murphy (R-Allegheny) pressed the top two executives, CEO Brian Harrison and CFO Bill Stover about their loan.
“What is your plan to pay back the taxpayers the $535 million that you owe them and when will you pay it back?” Murphy asked. The executives responded by pleading the fifth.
Two weeks ago, PA Republican Party Chairman, Rob Gleason released a statement regarding Solyndra, its bankruptcy and its political connectedness.
“President Obama is either inept at supporting good business sense, or he simply prioritizes padding his buddies’ pockets over saving and respecting taxpayer dollars, ” Gleason said.
This week, the PAGOP released another statement calling on President Obama to explain what they have termed “Solyndragate.”
“With Democrat donors everywhere as investors and lawyers, Solyndra smells of cronyism and Washington’s business as usual,” Gleason said.
“Its time for Obama to start explaining how he lost half a billion taxpayer dollars and how he’s going to prevent it from happening again.”
Murphy even discussed the issue on a recent episode of Pittsburgh-based, Christian sitcom/talkshow His Place.
At a press conference this morning, a number of reporters questioned the President about Solyndra’s received a $535 million taxpayer-funded loan — and company investor George Kaiser who was a major Obama donor.
“I have confidence decisions were made based upon what’s good for the American people,” Obama said in a press conference Thursday in response to questions from ABC News senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper. “There were going to be some companies that did not work out. Solyndra was one of them.”
Obama, in an interview this week with ABC News, said he didn’t have regrets about the federal loan given to, (now bankrupt), Solyndra.
“Hindsight is always 20/20,” said Obama. “The loan went through the regular review process and people felt that it was a good bet.”
In 2009, the loan was approved by the Obama Administration and was feted as a model creator of “green jobs.”
Republicans are concerned because in August a series of e-mail messages surfaced that suggest there were reservations inside the White House about moving ahead with the Solyndra loan too quickly.
Obama, in an interview this week with ABC News, said he didn’t have regrets about the federal loan given to, (now bankrupt), Solyndra.
“Hindsight is always 20/20,” said Obama. “The loan went through the regular review process and people felt that it was a good bet.”
Read more: http://www.politicspa.com/pa-republicans-push-solyndra-story/28449/